International language
April 1st 2006

The communications system used for signs must be standardised and presented in a form that is concise, unambiguous and easily understood. Jim Creak of Jalite explains

Effective safety management can only be achieved if everyone concerned receives correct and relevant information. It must cross the boundary of corporation, country, continent and, therefore, language.

Within any risk-assessed environment - be it at work, on holiday or in public space, the method of delivery of the safety message should be exactly the same. Any difference will mean confusion and misinterpretation and will inevitably exasperate an emergency situation contributing to more casualties.

Training and education of staff is required by law and is important, and there are various materials available for training and educational purposes.

The UK and International Standard for safety communications using graphical symbols as a universal safety language is ISO 7010 and, domestically, BS 5499 series of standards

By definition, the type of safety message is categorised as one of the following:

Prohibition safety sign: a safety sign that indicates that specific behaviour is forbidden

Mandatory Safety Sign: a safety sign that indicates that a specific course of action is to be taken

Hazard Safety Sign - a safety sign that indicates a specific source of potential harm

Safe Condition Safety Sign: a safety sign that indicates a safety action, the location of safety equipment or safety facility.

Fire Equipment Safety Sign: A safety sign that indicates the location or identification of fire equipment or how it should be used.

Escape Route Safety Sign: A safety sign directing people to travel along a protected safe route from any place within a premise to a place of safety.

The UK Standards:

BS 5499-1:2002 graphical symbols and signs - Safety signs, including fire safety signs - Part 1: specification for geometric shapes, colours and layouts.

BS 5499 Part 4:2000 - Safety signs, including fire safety signs - Part 4: code of practice for escape route signing.

BS 5499 Part 5:2002 - Graphical symbols and signs - Safety signs, including fire safety signs - Part 5: Signs with specific safety meaning.

BS ISO 16069:2004 - Graphical symbols - Safety Signs - safety way guidance systems (SWGS)

BS ISO 17398:2004 - safety colours and safety signs - Classification, performance and durability of safety signs.

Audit it!

An audit should be carried out to ensure that you are conforming to these standards as part of a good audit and review process under VS 8800:2004 occupational health and safety management systems guide.

The process of audit and review is now required for health and safety signs to satisfy the Health and Safety (safety signs and signals) regulations and as part of the formal risk assessment now required under the Fire Protection Regulatory Reform Order 2006 (Implementation October 2006).

The Fire Precaution Regulatory Reform Order requires that the person in control of the premises must ensure full compliance to all necessary fire safety provisions. The provisions required are details in Building regulations for Construction Elements and the Reform Order for the formal risk assessment and the management of fire safety.

The correct communication of the safety message now forms a very important part of the proof of compliance to regulations. The test for reliability should the proverbial hit the fan will always be conformance to best practice.

While British Standards are not law, in any dispute or legal action, the relevant standards will always be used to confirm compliance to best practice.

Warning

At this stage, a word of warning about signs and labels suppliers who can spread ink in any colour, shape or format, but sell products that do not conform to relevant standards. According to Jim Creak a good way to check if they are competent is to look at the design for a fire exit sign. He says "If it does not look like the version printed here, or it has different graphical symbols, then that company's catalogue should be discarded."

It is essential that we all talk in one language - a truly unified method is needed to get across the safety message.

Bulletin

Jalite manufactures photoluminescent fire, health and safety signs, means of escape signs and safety way-guidance systems, and other photoluminescent products for safety applications worldwide.

Other photoluminescent products include paint, marker tapes, photoline matting and high visibility clothing.

Based in Basildon, the company has a wide range of distributors both within the UK and worldwide. The company also supplies photoluminescent materials direct to the safety sign and plastics/printing industries.

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